Abdominal excercises for a muopic person

I'm 31, have myopia -8.5 (and -1.5 astigmatism) for both eyes. My retina (in both eyes) was coagulated several times because of lattice degeneration and thinning.

Is it possible to do abdominal excercise for me? Such as sit-up (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sit-up_%28exercise%29), leg rise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leg_raise) or crunch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunch_%28exercise%29)?

Thank you in advance!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Ask your retina surgeon, usually the answer is yes.
JCH MD

[vlad79]

Dr. Hagan, thank you very much for your answer.

My surgeon doesn't say about any activity restrictions, he says only "have a common sence and do not be fanatic in your excercises!".

But my friend gave me a link to this research: "Physical exertion (lifting) and retinal detachment among people with myopia"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18854710

Unfortunately in Belarus I have no access to the whole article, but I became a little bit afraid of strenuous activity. Is it really the relation between heavy lifting and retinal detachment in myopic persons proven???

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Generally no. There are risks with violent contact sports and of course getting hit in the eye with a ball (soccer, hockey, tennis, squash, racquetball, etc).

In a study done a long time ago by Dr. Dave Worthem  surveyed retina surgeons let their patients go back to running after RD surgery.

I would tell a person generally after barrage laser that sit ups, low impact aerobics, weight lifting, etc are okay.  

Avoid severe knocking about (carnival and amusement rides), yoga standing on your head meditation, etc.


JCH MD

[vlad79]

Dr. Hagan,
thank you very much for your replies!